When Jamal Roberts walked onto the American Idol stage during the 2025 auditions, few knew what to expect. A soft-spoken 37-year-old from Charlotte, North Carolina, Roberts wore a simple navy hoodie, well-worn sneakers, and carried nothing more than a quiet smile—and a story. But what came next had the entire room—judges included—on their feet.

Roberts, a warehouse supervisor and single father to 6-year-old Maya, delivered a soul-stirring performance of an original song titled “First Light,” written in honor of his daughter. The lyrics, tender and honest, painted a picture of morning routines, lunchbox notes, and bedtime lullabies—everyday moments that Roberts says “feel like miracles” since becoming a father.

“I never saw myself standing here,” Roberts told the judges before singing. “But every night before Maya falls asleep, she says, ‘Daddy, sing me something I’ve never heard before.’ So I started writing songs—just for her. And now I’m here, doing this—for her.”

The response was electric.

Lionel Richie called the performance “a modern-day classic,” comparing Roberts’ storytelling to that of Bill Withers. Katy Perry wiped away tears, saying, “You didn’t just sing a song—you opened a window into your world, and it’s beautiful in there.” Luke Bryan simply nodded, smiling: “That’s the kind of dad I want to be.”

Roberts’ golden ticket moment was capped by a heart-melting video call from Maya backstage. “Did you win the thingy?” she asked. “Not yet,” he replied with a grin. “But I think we’re off to a pretty good start.”

Since the audition aired, the clip has gone viral, racking up over 18 million views across TikTok and YouTube. Parents around the country have flooded the comment sections with gratitude and admiration, calling the performance “a love letter to fatherhood.”

Roberts has already been dubbed “America’s Dad” by fans online, many of whom are following his Idol journey not just for the music, but for the man behind it. A GoFundMe started by a viewer to support his future music career raised $40,000 in just 48 hours.

But despite the attention, Roberts remains grounded.

“I still wake Maya up every morning, I pack her lunch, and I walk her to the bus stop,” he said in a post-show interview. “American Idol is a dream—but being her dad is the dream I never knew I needed.”

As Roberts heads into Hollywood Week, he’s already writing again—this time with Maya’s help. “She gave me the idea for a new chorus,” he laughed. “It goes something like: ‘You’re my favorite song, even when you sing off-key.’”